Sliver-lap-feeding mechanism



L. G. MACINTYRE. SLIVER LAP FEEDING mEcHAmsM.

APPUCATION FILED NOV.6, 192D.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I INVENTOR L. G. MAClNTYRE.

SUVER LAP FEEDING MEEHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED uov.s. 1920.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTDI? 45 stoppage and reversal being controlled by a UNITED STATES LOUIS GRIMOND MACINTYRE, OF BROUGHTY FERRY, SCOTLAND.

SLIVER-LAP-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application filed November 6, 1920.

To all i k/10m it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS GRIMOND MAC- INTYRE, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland. and a resident of Carbet Castle, Broughty Ferry, in the county of Forfar, Scotland. manufacturer, have invented a certain new and useful Sliver-Lap- Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is the specification.

Where a continuous lap of sliver flowing at constant speed has to be delivered suc- 'ill w b cessively to a series of two or more machines, such for example as sliver balling machines such for example as that illustrated in my Patent No. 1,404,623, dated January 24,

1922, it is necessary that the stream of sliver should be momentarily interrupted and the lap broken at that instant when a change over from one machine to another is taking place, otherwise the lap will accumulate and lead to choking or irregularity of operation of the machine coming into use.

The invention has for its object to provide simple and effective means for interrupting the flow of the sliver lap and for breaking i s it at the moment its delivery is diverted from one machine of a series to another.

According to the invention there is provided a pair of feeding rolls driven at a normal-surface speed slightly greater than that of the lap. Preceding these rolls is a gap inthe shoot or equivalent device in or on which the sliver flows to the rolls and which is so proportioned and devised that a loop of'sliver may lie therein as hereinafter explained. In the train of gearing is a reverse mechanism adapted to be operated preferably automatically by that machine of the series being fed when that machine has completed its operation and a change over to another of the series is about to take place. The pair of rolls. or one of them, is operated through clutch mechanism from this gearing. and the rolls are thus momentarily stopped and reversed, the duration of their device in the reverse mechanism which rethrows the clutch and causes the rolls to be again driven in the direction for feeding the lap.

The actual distance through which the rolls are reversed is preferably under the primary control of adjustable means independent of the reversing mechanism which, whileallowing free rotation in the forward direction imposes a limitation upon the arc Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

Serial No. 422,157.

through which the rolls may be turned in the reverse direction. The momentary re- -rersal of the rolls not only causes definite breakage of the lap but also stops the flow (the lap accumulating in the gap) for that brief period in which change over from one machine to the next in order takes place. By virtue, of the increased surface speed of the feeding rolls over that of the lap, the loop or festoon formed in the gap by the continued delivery of sliver during the period of stoppage and reversal is taken up before it is again necessary to break the sliver.

From the controlling rolls the sliver lap passes either to a conveyor which may be of belt type and which is reversed where there are two machines alternately operating, or to a swiveling or movable shoot from which the lap is delivered to one of two or more machines.

PATENT OFFICE.

An illustrative example of the carrying l out of the invention is shown to some extent diagrammatically on two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, of which is an end' y iew of the delivery and feeding rolls, Figure 2 a sectional plan of the reversing clutch controlling the sliver breaking mechanism, and Figure 3 Sheet 2 a front elevation of the feeding rolls showing in outline the operating gear for the clutch.

In this example sliver is shown passing from a pair of delivery rolls A, A over a gap to a pair of feeding rolls 8, B mounted on shafts B 13* respectively, with the latter of which the sliver breaking mechanism is associated, and thence over a guide band C to a second set of feeding rolls D D The upper roll B of the first set is driven by spur wheels B from the lower roll B which is in turn driven through reversing clutch mechanism from a transverse shaft E. The shaft E rotates unidirectionally and carries a bevel pinion E in mesh with pinions F, G. free to rotate upOn the lower roller shaft B. Slidable upon a. feather B on the shaft 13 is a slipper H provided at one end with a coned friction clutch member H formed counterpart to a like member F attached to and rotating with the pinion F, and at the other end bearing teeth H counterpart to a dog clutch member G attached to the pinion G. When the dog clutch members are in engagement, a positive forward drive is transmitted through the pinion G to the rollers B, B which then rotate in the samedirection as the delivery rolls A A When, however, the clutch is thrown over until the coned friction faces contact, the drive takes place through the bevel pinion F and the direction of rotation of the rollers B B is therefore reversed.

The clutch operating mechanism employed in this example is shown diagrammatically in Figure 3 and comprises a slide J located in guides J and intermittently reci rocated by a link J automatically actuate by any convenient means (not shown) from the machine to which the sliver is being fed. In the slide J is a slotted tra k J terminating at each end in an ont turned portion J. The track J is engaged by a pin J' on one arm of a bell crank lever J fulcrumed at J and having its other arm operatively connected to the slipper H of the clutch. VVhenthe sliver is to be diverted from one machine to another, the slide J is moved from left to right (Figure 3) through the intermediary of the link J The pin J in followin the track J depresses the adjacent arm 0 the bell crank lever which in turn frees the for- V ward driving clutch members H G- and sithe inclined end of the track speed multaneously throws the reversing friction members H F into engagement. The direction of rotation of the rolls B B is thus reversed, causing a breakage in the sliver lap between these rolls and the succeeding pair D D which are continuously driven in the forward direction. During this momentary reversal, the sliver which is still being delivered as before from the rolls A, A forms a festoon, (as indicated by a dotted line in Figure l) the length of which is determined by the speed at which the slide J is caused to travel. The latter in completing its stroke to the right carries the pin J n J elevating the adjacent arm of the lever J. which in turn frees the friction members and brings the dog clutch again into engagement. The drive to the feeding rolls B B and D D is such that they rotate with a peripheral slightly grenterabout l to 2% than that of the delivery rolls A, A This difference in speed allows the festoon formed by the stoppage and reversal of the rolls B B to be entirely taken up before the sliver is again to be broken. The next break ocours on the movement of the slide J in the opposite direction, that is from right to left, when the reversing mechanism is again brought into play in the same manner as be-' fore.

in order to ensure that the broken end of sliver will not pasr th ough the nip of the rolls B. B and oizl of control thereof, a devire limiting the urinal distance through which flies-1' oil .IIflV be rever ed is pro \idcd. This evice consi t of a ratchet wheel K carried b the upper roll shaft B attached a finger K located between two fixed stops K, K When the rolls B, B'- are being driven in the forward direction, the finger K contacts with the stop K and the ratchet teeth ride over the pawls, so that the forward drive is in no way interfered with. \Vhen however the direcion of rotation of the rolls is reversed, the pawls K are engaged and locked by the teeth of the ratchet, and the disc K is consequently rotated solid with the latter until the finger K is intercepted by the stop it and the rolls B, B brought to rest. As the shaft B with the clutch member H is now held stationary while the pinion F with the clutch member F is still driven, slip takes place between the two friction elements H, F the former of which is leather faced to allow of this. The clutch continues to slip until such time as the slide J completes its stroke and the forward driving clutch members are again brought into engagement.

What I claim is 2- 1. In apparatus 'fordelivering a continuous lap of sliver flowing at constant speed successively to a series of two or more machines, means for interrupting the flow and for breaking the lap when the feed is to be diverted, comprising a pair of feeding rolls driven at a surface speed slightly greater than that of the lap, a gap bridged by the sliver and immediately preceding these rolls, clutch controlled mechanism for driving the rolls in the forward and reverse directions,

sliver and immediately preceding these rolls,

clutch controlled mechanism for driving the rolls in the forward and reverse directions, means for operating the clutch to cause momentary stoppage and reversal of the rolls and adjustable independent means limiting the actual distance through which the rolls are reversed, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In the mechanism forming the subject matter of claim 1 hereof, bevel pinions free to rotate upon one of the feeding roller shafts and driven in opposite directions from a transverse shaft, and a slidable clutch member mounted on a feather on the roller shaft and adapted on one side to be brought into, positive engagement with the pinion transmitting a forward drive to the rolls and on the other to he brought into frictional engagement with the reverse driving pinion, as set forth.

4. In the mechanism forming the Sllll l0('tmatter ol claim 1 hereof. a slide intermittently rcriprooated from the nmi hine to which sliver is being; fed; a slotted track in this slide with out-turned ends: and a hell crank lever mounted on a fixed tulrrinn, one arm of the lever carrying a. pin engaging in the track and the other arm operatively connected to the slidahle member of the clutch; as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In the mechanism 'fOi'lTliHg the subjectmatter of claim 1 hereof, a ratchet wheel carried on one of the roller shafts. a disc mounted on this shaft but free to rotate thereon, pawls hinged to the disc and so hearing on the ratchet as to ride over the 20 two fixed stops, as and for the purposes set 25 forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

L( )UIS (:RIMOND MACINTYRE. 

